Online Reporter
Ronald Mpofu
A crippling water shortage has hit Plumtree town, leaving residents struggling to cope with limited and irregular water supplies.
Many have gone for days without running water and are now forced to wake up in the early hours of the morning to fetch water, as the municipality implements a water-shedding schedule that has sparked frustration among residents.
Residents say they are living in unsatisfactory conditions and have lodged complaints with the town council following the introduction of the water-shedding programme. This has left them paying higher rates despite going for a week without a proper water supply.
The border town is facing erratic water cuts, with some residents reporting they only have access to water at irregular hours. For a few households, water only arrives in the middle of the night, typically between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.
Businesses in the town are also affected by these water challenges, which have caused a decline in hygiene standards at fast-food outlets and restaurants.
“We only get water at very odd hours; sometimes it reaches our houses, and sometimes it doesn’t at all. We are forced to wake up as early as 2 a.m. on the chance we might get some,” said one resident, who was fetching water from a bush pump borehole.
The Town Secretary, Mr Thembelani Nyoni, did not specify when the issue would be rectified. However, he explained that the municipality is facing financial challenges related to buying chemicals to treat water and purchasing electricity tokens.
“Water services are supplied on a cost-recovery basis, which means that all production costs should be met by the user of the service. The situation is that users have not honoured their water bills, which amount to ZiG8,268,702.75, and their rates bills, which amount to ZiG81,333,828.43,” said Nyoni.
“This has left the council in an untenable situation, as it is constrained in meeting production costs for chemicals, electricity, maintenance, and repairs.
“The council thus appeals to all users to meet their obligations. Normal service will resume when all outstanding debts are honoured,” he added.
